PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 23: Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch in the bottom of the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 23, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a pretty rough game for the Guardians offense as they were held to just three hits. We have faced two of the best pitchers in the league in back to back games so we shouldn’t be too upset about coming out of that 1-1.
As for the pitching staff it was a solid outing for Slade Cecconi. Limiting the damage to 3 runs in 5 innings is all you can really ask for in a #5 starter, which I think is what he is at this point. Festa and Pallette both struggled with their control in this one as they combined for 5 walks in just two innings pitched. Shawn Armstrong also tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
The Guardians will attempt to win the series tomorrow. It will be Parker Messick against Andrew Painter at 1:35 pm ET.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game wining goal on Jakub Dobes (not pictured) #75 of the Montreal Canadiens during overtime in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center on May 23, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The fourth line for the Hurricanes were arguably the best on the ice, the team as a whole looked like the team that had gone 8-0 in the playoffs before Game One, and Nikolaj Ehlers put his stamp on the game with one of the most beautiful goals you’ll ever see and then one of the most important goals in franchise history as Carolina staved off Montreal to take Game Two 3-2 in Overtime.
The Hurricanes established from the beginning that they had learned their lessons from Thursday Night, as the team was on top of Montreal from the jump. It looked like the Hurricanes team we had seen all postseason with a tight forecheck, the opponent unable to really get settled into the zone, and multiple chances on net. The work was quickly rewarded as the fourth line produced the first score. The play started with Mark Jankowski digging the puck off the wall and feeding a pass to William Carrier. Carrier shot the puck on net and on its way, Eric Robinson stuck his stick out to change the path, deflecting it past Jakub Dobeš and putting Carolina up 1-0
Carolina continued to dominate play until a sequence changed the tenor of the period. Dobeš would push the net off its post, causing play to stop. No penalty was called but replays in the arena showed the only reason it came off was Dobeš. Montreal would get possesion of the ensuing face off, and while trying to set up in the zone Logan Stankoven would be called for interference on Kaiden Guhle. Carolina killed the penalty, but a few moments after Taylor Hall tried a poor outlet pass to the neutral zone. It was intercepted by Guhle, and Montreal had the opening to rush the net. Josh Anderson would get it past Frederick Andersen and the score was tied. Carolina would later get a power play that was ended early thanks to a boarding call on Andrei Svechnikov. The Hurricanes were able to stand tall and got to the locker room tied 1-1.
The second period was mostly a back and forth affair, with both teams getting extended looks in the offensive zone and the defenses plus goalies coming up big. The Canes would get a power play when Dobeš was called for an interference, but it didn’t result in any really good looks. It appeared the period would end tied until Nikolaj Ehlers just pulled off one of the most amazing one-man goal moves to cause the Lenovo Center to explode and put the Canes up 2-1.
The period would end with Carolina almost giving up the lead again but Svechnikov made a great defensive play to break it up, and Andersen would move the puck out. In the process Alexandre Texier hit K’Andre Miller with his stick crumpling him to the ice. The officials called a major to look at it, but it was reduced to a two minute penalty on review, despite pretty universal agreement that Texier speared Miller and should have not only gotten the five minutes but a Game Misconduct.
Carolina was unable to convert on the two minute man advantage, and while they had several opportunities they weren’t able to finish around Dobeš. That work was enough to where Montreal started to take control in the back half of the period, leading to the tying goal on a scrum in front of Andersen. Several Hurricanes were in front of the net, but Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis were unable to clear the puck fully, and as Aho essentially knocked Andersen off balance, the puck ended up on Josh Andersen’s stick. He was able to push it by the goalie to knot the score at two with 7:09 left. Both teams would have other chances, but for the third straight series, the Hurricanes would go to overtime in Game 2.
That’s when Ehlers put in his second signature moment. The overtime basically started like the Philadelphia Game Four overtime where the Canes established control and Montreal just wasn’t able to get anything going. Then just a little over three minutes in, Jalen Chatfield intercepted an attempt by Kapanen to get into the zone. The puck had just passed the Hurricanes bench when Ehlers hopped on the ice, and Chatfield pushed the puck to center ice. Mark Jankowski completed a nice touch pass to the streaking Ehlers who saw what was happening. He easily beat Dobeš to blow the roof off of Lenovo Center and give the Canes the 3-2 win.
Thanks to Cory Lavalette for pointing out, it was Ehlers’ second ever overtime playoff goal. The first came against Edmonton in the 2021 First Round.
After the game, Ehlers was clearly still trying to soak in what he did and the weight of what had just been accomplished.
The play of the whole Ehlers line was key to the win, as they were paired up with the monster Suzuki line, and held them completely in check. Rod talked about that, as well as the work done by the rest of the team on the off day, and had some thoughts on the lack of a call at the end of the second when I asked him.
That is what I get for trying to be delicate in asking about a spear to the groin.
Carolina will practice at the Lenovo Center on Sunday before heading out to Montreal. Game three of the best of seven will be Monday Night at 8 PM.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trying to match the star power of Madison Square Garden, Rocket Arena sat Taylor Swift and her dunce, Travis Kelce, courtside for Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals. Nice try, we say. In the stands and on the court, the Cavaliers are outmatched in this series. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Playoffs, which is exactly the dire situation Cleveland finds itself in. With 30 points from Jalen Brunson, more brilliance from Mikal Bridges, and more automatic shooting from Landry Shamet, New York never trailed in their tenth straight win. Final score: 121-108.
Smile, folks. Your New York Knicks are one win away from their first Finals appearance of the century.
Two minutes in, this tilt smelled like a romp. Mirroring Game Two, Bridges got a steal and New York took a 5-0 lead in the first minute. Like a well-oiled machine, the visitors grabbed defensive boards and made their shots while the home team missed theirs. Falling behind by eight, Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson signaled a timeout.
The skipper reminded his crew to attack the paint, and five of their next eight buckets came at the cup. At the other end, the Knicks spread the wealth, with four starters scoring and assists on half their makes. The Ohio Players were determined not to give away an easy win, though. Knicks coach Mike Brown tried to deploy point-KAT, but yet again Cleveland applied better coverage than Atlanta or Philadelphia.
“No sweat,” said Karl. Although he had difficulty making the pass, he easily rose up over defenders for shots and reached double-digit points before double-digit minutes.
The Cavs had made about half their shots, which would have been a nice performance if New York hadn’t made three-quarters of theirs. Keeping with the theme, Shamet joined the game and canned a triple to make the lead ten with 3:30 left. Everything was falling for our heroes, who took a 37-27 lead into Q2.
To begin the second frame, Jose Alvarado assumed lead guard duties, playing alongside Miles McBride, Shamet, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Cleveland chipped a few points off its deficit before Jalen returned. Mitchell Robinson was in, too, and when Jaylon Tyson attacked him for a jam, Cleveland was on a 21-11 run that tied the game.
Despite the run, nobody with a rooting interest in the Knicks had anything to worry about. On the court, Brunson returned to Harden-hunting to score off the glass. Down the stretch, Donovan Mitchell returned and took turns with James Harden missing shots, and the Knicks regained a nine-point lead before securing a 60-54 halftime score.
For once, the Cavs were winning the paint (28-18) and the glass (18-16). They just sabotaged themselves everywhere else. They made just 21% from deep compared to New York’s 38%, and they produced no fast-break points despite forcing nine Knicks turnovers. (At one point, New York had outscored them 17-0 on fast-break points.) Harden led all scorers with 14 points, while OG Anunoby had 13. OG would finish the night with 21 points on 10 shots, plus seven boards and four dimes. Just another day at the office for one of the NBA’s best defenders.
After intermission, Cleveland had some success with Mitchell shooting at the perimeter and Evan Mobley inside, but the Knicks were dishing and swishing. Towns and Anunoby took turns feeding Bridges for layups. Hats off to Mikal: in the seven games since his rocky first-round series, he has shot 57-of-85 from the field and hit 44% from deep. Check out these numbers:
New York’s defense was tight in the third quarter, too, with Hart leading the way with three steals in about a minute. His shooting was less impressive than in Game Two, but he was a demon in his 34 minutes.
The Cavs had opportunities; they simply lacked the personnel to get back into the black. After two Mobley free throws cut the gap to three, New York outscored its foes by ten to reach its largest lead of the night. Harden did some vintage Beard things, scoring on a crafty drive or two, and Mobley and Sam Merrill made buckets, but six turnovers (Mobley had three, Harden two, and Mitchell one) erased their gains. Plus, Brunson was cooking. Even with defenders draped over his shoulders, Cap put up 12 points in the period and locked down a 91-82 lead by the break.
The home team needed to come out strong in the fourth. Instead, it missed three shots while the guests scored five unanswered points and went ahead by 14. Still, Cleveland had chances, but left a pile of points at the charity stripe. Mitchell converted just 2-of-6 from the line, adding to the misery of his -22 evening.
Shamet dropped three straight three-pointers, which were brutal counterpunches to every Cavalier swing. Amazingly, he has shot 7-of-8 from downtown in this series. Then, when Brunson went high off the glass at the six-minute mark, the lead touched 16 points. Anunoby hit from deep, and the lead hit 17.
Mitchell and Mobley cut it to a dozen, and the latter had a triple rattle out that would have made this game interesting again with 2:30 remaining. Instead, from their slumped shoulders and shuffling steps, you could see that their spirits were broken. Bridges hit a jumper, Brunson sailed in for a layup, and the Cavs were toast.
Max Strus, who spent much of the game complaining to the refs, was fouled by Hart while making a triple with a minute left. Tony Brothers upgraded it to a flagrant one, giving Strus a freebie and Cleveland possession. But Mobley missed on a close-range turnaround, New York got it back, and the funeral bells were clanging loudly.
As the Cleveland faithful trudged toward the exits, chants of “Let’s Go Knicks” reverberated through Rocket Arena. When Brunson put a bow on things at the line, he was serenaded with “MVP! MVP! MVP!” On the road. In an ECF game. It still seems impossible, but quoth PolyphonicSpreewell: “Well well well. It really is happening.”
Up Next
Get your broom ready again. The Knicks will play Game Four here on Monday. Rest up, Knickerbockers.
Weirdest home court advantage. Cavs have raised seats for themselves but not visiting team. Knicks should just throw some cushions on the floor at MSG for visiting team. pic.twitter.com/0gSdHzjnpr
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) beats a tag by Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sánchez (99) to score on a single by catcher Will Smith during the eighth inning of their game Saturday, May 23, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers were following a familiar script on Saturday night, jumping all over the Dodgers starter for a crooked number in the first inning. The offense stagnated after that, but the Dodgers’ offense didn’t and scored 11 unanswered runs to win the game 11-3.
Milwaukee started the game with back-to-back doubles from Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang to very quickly grab the lead. Andrew Vaughn reached on an error that scored a run, Gary Sánchez walked, and then Sal Frelick singled, but Sánchez was thrown out heading to third to end the inning. An unforced mistake by Sánchez helped Roki Sasaki escape trouble, and after that, he buckled down.
The Brewers’ offense was only able to muster two hits after the first inning: A double by Jackson Chourio that just missed being a home run in the second inning and an infield single by Sánchez in the eighth.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers’ offense was able to get to Brewers starter Robert Gasser in the fourth inning as Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages had back-to-back doubles of their own. Kyle Tucker drew a walk, and it appeared Pages signaled the pitch grips that Gasser had to Teoscar Hernández from second base. Hernández promptly took an 0-2 slider deep to left field and off the foul pole for a three-run homer, propelling the Dodgers to a 4-3 lead.
“I think he got caught up and gave away some pitches that ended up hurting him. But you can’t give up 0-2 hits either way, you can’t throw 0-2 pitches down the middle,” Pat Murphy said.
The Brewers’ offense, despite being down just one run, could not muster a rally together. The Dodgers then continued to pile on with three more runs in the eighth inning and four in the ninth.
It wasn’t even a ton of hard contact and damage that the Dodgers did. The Brewers’ pitching staff gave up six walks in the final two innings alone, and five of them came around to score. They mixed in a couple of singles, taking advantage of the struggles of DL Hall and Jake Woodford.
The Dodgers had nine batters head to the plate in each of the final two innings. Mookie Betts made the last out each time and ended the day 0-for-6. His season batting average has dropped to .169. He did miss five weeks with an oblique strain earlier this year, but his struggles are still unusual for him. He was the only Dodger not to reach base in tonight’s game.
Robert Gasser finished with a line of 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, and 4 Ks. He was doing pretty well up until the fourth inning, facing just two over the minimum. Then he gave up some hard contact, gave up some walks, and couldn’t get through the fifth.
“I’m not pleased with it. This is a winning ball club, and I came in and was a part of two losses. It’s not ideal, just gotta minimize free passes and keep attacking the strike zone,” Gasser said.
The Brewers will still have a chance to win the series against the Dodgers on Sunday in the rubber match. Brandon Sproat will be on the mound for the Crew, while the Dodgers will have Yoshinobu Yamamoto. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.
Travis Kelce chugged a beer at the Cavaliers' game.
Travis Kelce tried to hype up the losing Cavaliers with a beer chug — in the end the Knicks wore down the Cavaliers and took the spirit of the energetic Kelce.
Shortly before the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 121-108 Game 3 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night in Cleveland, the camera at Rocket Arena panned to Kelce downing a beer court side as the fans cheered him on.
Once finished with the beverage, Kelce, an Ohio native, pulled his coat to the side and revealed a Cavaliers shirt and flashed his corresponding team hat to the camera.
The camera then panned to his fiancee, pop superstar Taylor Swift, facepalming and shaking her head while her song “…Ready for it” played in the background.
“I don’t know if his girlfriend is going to like seeing him chugging beers like that,” commentator Richard Jefferson said during the ESPN on ABC broadcast.
Travis Kelce reacts during the Cavaliers’ loss to the Knicks on May 23. Getty Images
Kelce’s stunt did not prove to help Cleveland in any way, who immediately gave up five points to start the fourth quarter.
The Knicks wound up rolling past the Cavaliers to go up 3-0 in the series. Game 4 is Monday night.
Photos later emerged of Kelce with his eyes closed and hat pulled down looking deflated as Swift looked at him sadly.
The Chiefs tight end was spotted sitting courtside with Swift earlier in Saturday’s game, with the broadcast panning to them midway through the first quarter.
The two are expected to get married in New York City in the coming weeks, with Page Six previously reporting the wedding will take place on July 3.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce watch during the first half of the Knicks’ 121-108 Game 3 win over the Cavaliers on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland. AP Photo/Tim Phillis
Despite buzz surrounding Kelce’s possible retirement from the NFL before this season, the 36-year-old confirmed in March that he will be suiting up for 2026, and later said how Swift served as a motivating factor for his return.
Travis Kelce reacts during the second half of the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Cavaliers. AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki
“We share the same love for what we do. Fortunately, we’ve had this desire since we were kids in our selective professions,” Kelce said during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” in March.
“It’s amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies and things like that, and on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does, and yeah, of course, that’s motivating.
“That’s motivating for anyone to see, let alone my fiancée, and knowing that I’m going through something where I’m trying to figure out exactly what the future holds for me, something like that definitely motivates me to say, ‘You know what, I’m not done either,’” Kelce said.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz reacts against the Miami Heat during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on February 09, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tomas Diniz Santos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New rumors about the upcoming lottery changes have leaked and were reported by Kevin O’Connor. In that reporting, some questions have been answered about changes to different pick streaks, namely: can teams pick 1st in the draft multiple times, and how often can teams pick in the top-5? Here’s what O’Connor reported:
“… there is also a rule stating that no team can land first in two consecutive drafts, or in the top five in three consecutive drafts.”
That obviously resolves a problem with a team like the San Antonio Spurs having three top-4 picks in three years. But in vintage Adam Silver fashion, by solving that problem, he’s created another unforeseen one. From O’Connor, Silver and the NBA have “decided to start the clock on these two-year and three-year streaks by looking back to the 2025 and 2026 drafts, according to league sources.” O’Connor goes on to explain:
In practice, this would mean if Washington wins the lottery again in 2027, it moves to second.
Makes sense, right? Yes ….
But what about teams that own the rights to picks from other teams? According to O’Connor:
The streak attaches to the original team, according to league sources. In other words, if Team A has Team B’s pick in the 2027 draft as a result of a trade and that Team B pick lands first, then Team B’s own pick in 2028 would not be eligible to land first, whether it’s retained by Team B or owned by a different team. But Team A, by virtue of selecting first using Team B’s pick in 2027, would still be eligible to pick first in 2028 with its own pick or any other team’s pick.
“In the event a team’s pick is drawn in the lottery in a position where it is not permitted to be, then such team’s pick would be moved down to the first permissible position,” the league wrote in its proposal sent to teams. Continuing the above example, this would mean that if Team B popped up first in the 2028 draft, that pick would automatically be moved to the second pick instead.
Additionally, the NBA has decided to start the clock on these two-year and three-year streaks by looking back to the 2025 and 2026 drafts, according to league sources. In practice, this would mean if Washington wins the lottery again in 2027, it moves to second.
O’Connor goes on to say the retroactive rules are not to give an advantage to a team like the Wizards, who just won the 1st pick, otherwise they’d be at an advantage other teams won’t have. (I guess they are just going to ignore the Spurs thing…).
But this rule has crazy ramifications for the Utah Jazz-Memphis Grizzlies trade that landed Jaren Jackson Jr. in Utah. This new rule, because of the retroactive stipulation, means the pick that Utah traded to the Grizzlies can’t land in the top-5 of the draft. O’Connor explains it well, so I’m putting his explanation here:
The top-five pick rule will date back to 2025. The Utah Jazz picked fifth in 2025 and second in 2026. Under the new rule, they can’t land in the top five in 2027.
But the Jazz traded that pick to the Memphis Grizzlies in February for Jaren Jackson Jr., which means Memphis won’t be able to receive it since streaks will be triggered by the original team, not the team holding the pick. Two issues here.
First, the framework. The NBA explains this rule under a section titled “Pick Restrictions For Repeat Lottery Winners.” Is landing the fifth pick really a winner? One year ago, the Jazz were distraught when their pick landed fifth, because the true franchise-changers that teams want to win are commonly landed with the first or second pick. In the future, if a team ends up fifth one year, then fourth the next, should they really be punished for landing first in the third year? Or even fifth again? I would argue no, that the top-five rule reaches too far.
I am understanding of wanting to prevent a team from picking first in consecutive years. But anything beyond that feels like a massive overreach that could cause more problems than intended when the goal is supposed to be to eliminate tanking.
Second, there’s the reality that the Jazz did trade that pick. Now the Grizzlies have it — through the rights of a pick-swap structure. But if this rule passes, Memphis wouldn’t be able to receive an unprotected pick. Grizzlies fans would obviously be crushed by the news. This pick was the most valuable of the assets Memphis got back for one of its stars, and it happened under a set of rules that didn’t include a three-year streak cap. That Jazz-to-Grizzlies pick is being retroactively devalued because of a league’s arbitrary decision to start the clock in 2025, but it also gives us an example of what could happen in future years to any team.
I agree with O’Connor that this is not fair for the Memphis Grizzlies, and doesn’t really do anything for Utah other than knowing that there’s no way they get burned by the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade. It does help with optics if the Jazz look incredible next year. In reality, it’s hard to see the Jazz being anything other than a top team in the Western Conference and in the playoffs. The Grizzlies weren’t likely to get a lottery pick, anyway. It’s still frustrating if you’re a Grizzlies fan, I’m sure.
But it’s not all smooth sailing for Utah. Let’s say the Jazz want to make another trade this season or later. Having their last two picks in the top 5 means there may be teams reticent to trade with the Jazz.
Then again…
This also means Utah’s future-owned picks from the Cavs and Wolves remain safe from any issues, so that’s another positive for the Jazz.
All in all, this seems like a rule that could have bad outcomes for the Grizzlies, but those outcomes seem unlikely. For Utah, they get to draft either AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, or Cam Boozer come draft night and there’s not much reason to worry about much else.
Nine straight times since then, they had lost to their smaller-market –– and much less-well-funded –– fellow National League contenders, their longest active streak against any opponent.
The Dodgers have had no problem beating the Brewers in the playoffs in recent years. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Finally, that rut finally ended with an 11-3 win Saturday, on a night the Dodgers came from behind early, pulled away for a blowout triumph late, and saw their bullpen make some club history along the way.
“Just across the board,” manager Dave Roberts said, “really good ball game.”
Down three runs straight out of the gate after a 35-pitch first inning from Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers surged in front with a four-run rally in the fourth; keyed by doubles from Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages, then a go-ahead three-run blast from Teoscar Hernández clanged off the left-field foul pole.
“The Teo homer was a big hit to get us a lead, when we were looking a little bit down and got behind early,” Roberts said.
It would be the start of a six-RBI night from Hernández, who matched his MLB career-high with a run-scoring single in a three-run eighth and a two-run single in a four-run ninth.
“I’m just hitting the ball in the air, hitting it hard,” said Hernández, who has busted out of an early-season slump by batting .388 over his last 14 games. “I think that’s what’s been the difference between the last two weeks.”
Overall, the Dodgers finished with 10 hits and a season-high 11 walks, including four from Freeman alone. It was their third time scoring double-digit runs in the last week.
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In between all that, the team watched Sasaki settle down to complete a five-inning outing without any further damage, then turned the lead over to their recently flawless bullpen the rest of the way.
With four more scoreless frames Saturday, the club’s relief corps has now gone 36 innings without giving up a run. That broke the franchise’s previous record-long bullpen streak, surpassing a 33-inning run from the club’s 1998 team.
It was also the 10th-straight game their bullpen went unblemished, a stretch that included a bullpen-game shutout against the Angels to start this nine-game road trip.
“They’re on a heater,” Roberts said. “It’s one of those things that, when it doesn’t go well, they get the blame, and when it does go well, they don’t get a lot of credit. But they are getting the credit now, and it’s earned. So really happy for those guys.”
Down three runs straight out of the gate after a 35-pitch first inning from Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers surged in front with a four-run rally in the fourth Getty Images
What it means
Now that the Dodgers (32-20) have won a game against the Brewers (30-19), they can go for a series victory on Sunday. The club hasn’t had one of those against Milwaukee since July 2024, and hasn’t taken a series at American Family Field since May 2023.
Those stats, of course, ignore the Dodgers’ postseason dominance of the Brewers.
In October, they have won seven-straight games in the matchup, dating from last year’s NL Championship Series sweep to a pennant-clinching Game 7 triumph in the 2018 NLCS.
The win also marked the Dodgers’ eighth in their last 10 games, and improved their record on this three-city, nine-game road trip to 6-2.
“We’ve got a chance to cap it off with three series wins tomorrow,” Freeman said.
Either way, their (regular-season) curse against the Brewers has ended.
Who’s hot
Literally everyone in the Dodgers’ bullpen lately –– including Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Tanner Scott and Jonathan Hernández on Saturday.
Vesia and Hurt entered the game in high-leverage spots, protecting what was only a 4-3 lead in the sixth and seventh innings. They both did so by stranding baserunners, with Vesia working around a leadoff walk and Hurt getting away with two free passes (one of which was intentional).
While Hurt’s 0.60 ERA is the best among the Dodgers’ bullpen (minimum three outings), Scott’s contributions have been perhaps the most important.
Since Edwin Díaz’s injury, he has become the most trusted arm at the back end of games. And after a scoreless seventh inning Saturday that included three strikeouts (with a single mixed in), he now has a 1.31 ERA on the season and 14 strikeouts in his current nine-appearance scoreless streak.
Now that the Dodgers (32-20) have won a game against the Brewers (30-19), they can go for a series victory on Sunday AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Who’s not
Max Muncy was still not feeling great Saturday, after exiting Friday’s game in the eighth inning when he was hit in the wrist by a pitch.
However, Roberts reiterated that he did not expect Muncy to go on the injured list, after Friday night X-rays on Muncy’s wrist came back negative.
Muncy did not play Saturday, and might not be back in the lineup until Tuesday as he works to alleviate swelling and soreness in the area he got plunked. While the X-rays were clean, Roberts said it is possible that Muncy could go for further imaging when the team returns home Monday.
The club won’t be in a rush to get Muncy back in the lineup, especially with Kiké Hernández set to come off the injured list Monday after missing the start of the season recovering from offseason elbow surgery.
“Obviously (an IL stint for Muncy) should be considered, depending on how he responds over the next couple of days,” Roberts said. “But I doubt it (will be necessary).”
Up next
The series rubber match will be on Sunday afternoon, when Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-4, 3.22 ERA) faces Brandon Sproat (1-2, 5.75 ERA).
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 23: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Three of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks are a well-coached team that has a firm grip on what they want to do on both sides of the ball. Their spacing and offensive principles are on point. Even when shots aren’t going in, they continue to play how you’d expect a conference finalist to.
Meanwhile, the Cavs looked like the team they are — one that was scrounged together at the trade deadline in hopes of making the most out of what looked like it could be a lost year. They don’t know what their strengths are, or if they do, they don’t play to them.
The Cavs deployed mostly the same game plan that worked in Game 1, but failed them in Game 2. They cheated too far off Josh Hart, offered switches to Brunson too easily, and weren’t able to target him on the other end.
The shooting would’ve offset a lot of these issues, but make no mistake, New York was the better team once again.
“They were the most physical team,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said afterward. “They were the much better team.”
This all added up to a humiliating 121-108 loss in Game 3 in a game they never led. The Cavs are now down 3-0, on the brink of elimination.
The Knicks let us know early what kind of game it would be. They jumped out to a 9-1 lead. They were the aggressor once again, as has been the case since midway through the fourth quarter of Game 1. This allowed them to have a 10-point lead after Game 1.
The Cavs fought back to tie the game at 50 with five minutes left in the half, but a strong close to the quarter allowed the Knicks to create more separation, as they took a six-point advantage into the third.
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New York flexed its muscle in the third. They put their foot on the gas by consistently turning defense into offense. They pushed the lead to 13 before taking a seven-point lead into the fourth.
The Knicks controlled the fourth quarter. They extended the lead to 17 with excellent shot-making. Each one gave the thousands of Knicks fans who made the trip to Ohio reason to let their voices be heard as “Let’s go Knicks” chants rang out through Rocket Arena.
Donovan Mitchell, who Atkinson said wasn’t hurt but just dealing with regular bumps and bruises before the game, had 23 points on 9-21 shooting with four assists.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs with 24 points and six rebounds. Jarrett Allen had 17 points and seven rebounds.
James Harden recorded 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers in the defeat.
The Knicks were once again led by Jalen Brunson with 30 points. Mikal Bridges had 22 points. OG Anunoby had 21 points.
“They’re playing great playoff basketball,” Atkinson said. “Nine playoff wins in a row is really hard to do.”
No team has ever rallied back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history. If the Cavs are going to be the first, they need to start making the outside looks they’re given, and they need to readjust to what the Knicks have been doing offensively since the start of Game 2.
“Get one, and then we’ll go from there,” Atkinson said.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are officially on the ropes. They were properly defeated in Game 3 by the New York Knicks and face elimination on Monday.
Let’s go over today’s losers.
LOSER – The Process
Kenny Atkinson has preached process all season. The Cavs have a plan, and they stick to it. It takes extreme circumstances to get them to stray away from that process. And sometimes, even the extreme isn’t enough.
Josh Hart lit Cleveland up from downtown in Game 2. They continued to bet against him in Game 3. And while he didn’t bury them all over again, he did convert on a totally uncontested three in the fourth quarter that feels like a backbreaker when you just hand it to him.
Why not just play defense? Because of the process.
The numbers might tell you that leaving Hart open will work in your favor over the long run. The problem is, the playoffs are all about short sample sizes. Why would you test fate to this degree? There’s a human element and a degree of ‘rising to the moment’ that analytics can not account for. If given the choice between guarding Hart or betting on a spreadsheet, I think you should guard Hart.
That same process has led to the Cavs launching three-pointers to no avail. There’s value in an open, or even semi-open, three-point attempt. But only if those shots are falling. You don’t get brownie points for taking good shots. You get a 0-3 deficit for not adjusting.
I’m not saying the Cavs should stop taking open threes. That would be silly. But they have no alternative. They’ve shot below 30% from deep in the series and have not found anything else to fall back on. They can’t get into the paint, they haven’t made any rotational adjustments, and they don’t get enough stops to change things.
It’s all out of whack.
Maybe this is the result of playing against a better team. I think we at least have to acknowledge the possibility that New York is flat-out better at this than the Cavs.
Still, you never want to go down without swinging. You have to throw the kitchen sink. To run into the same wall multiple seasons in a row while pointing to ‘shot quality’ is maddening.
Sure, it’s a make-or-miss league, but the best teams find a way to overcome the odds and win regardless. The Cavs aren’t willing enough to stray away from their process to even find out if that’s possible for them.
Why not play Jaylon Tyson in this game? I understand this team has leaned more on Dennis Schroder throughout the playoffs — but Tyson looked better in his seven minutes tonight than Schroder did. Why not make the adjustment?
The same can be said for Cleveland’s starting lineup, which can jump off the charts analytically, but comes with the glaring weakness of Dean Wade being a non-threat to dribble or shoot. They pivoted to Max Strus in the starting lineup for Game 7 against the Pistons, and they’ve consistently closed games with him over Wade. Maybe put your best players on the floor to start the game?
So many things can be explained away by trusting the process. Trusting a data point that suggests a different outcome was more likely. But… like Josh Hart said after Game 2, analytics can only take you so far.
Josh Hart hates analytics:
"They're lamp posts to a drunk person. You can lean on them, but it won't get you home"
The Cavs, who should feel like their backs are to the wall, came out flat from an energy perspective. The Knicks looked like the hungrier, more desperate team, and beat the Cavs in transition multiple times (even off made baskets).
It’s one thing to turn it over and have an opponent run wild. It’s a whole other issue if you’re failing to get back after scoring a bucket. That stuff is inexcusable on a Tuesday night in January, let alone the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York outscored Cleveland 17-4 in transition. The margins are, of course, the margins. But losing one of those hustle categories that badly can swing a game. I’m not sure if it would have even mattered, considering how poorly the Cavs shot, but they didn’t do themselves any favors here.
This is a broader trend that stretches back to the start of the season. Honestly, it goes back to their series against the Indiana Pacers a year ago. They tried to address it by focusing on conditioning this season. It didn’t make a difference during the regular season, and it only got worse after trading for James Harden.
The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Finals matchup on Saturday night.
New York has won 10 playoff games in a row, holding a commanding 3-0 series advantage.
Here are some takeaways...
- Taking the series on the road for the first time the Knicks got off to about as good a start they could've hoped for, opening up a quick 9-1 advantage and forcing the Cavs to call a timeout less than two minutes in. The home team was able to find their footing from there, but New York continued thriving, as well.
- The Knicks' depth scoring stepped up early with Jalen Brunson struggling once again. Led by Karl-Anthony Towns (11) and Mikal Bridges (six) they had seven different players record a bucket as they shot a combined 72 percent from the field as a team to carry a double-digit advantage through the opening quarter.
- New York finally cooled off as the Cavs tightened things up early in the second, and they quickly used a 7-0 run to cut the deficit down to two points. With Donovan Mitchell briefly forced to the locker room, an aggressive James Harden was able to find his rhythm offensively, putting energy right back into the building.
- The Knicks weathered the second quarter storm, never letting Cleveland jump in front, and they were able to reopen a six-point advantage heading into the break. Even with the brief tough stretch New York shot 57 percent from the field as a team in the opening half, while the Cavaliers made just 3-of-19 threes.
- A sloppy Cleveland stretch midway through the third allowed the Knicks to open their largest lead of the game at the time (13), but they were once again unable to put the home team away for good, as the deficit was cut back down to nine points heading into the fourth quarter, 91-82.
- A Hart three and Bridges lay-in sandwiched between a Cavs miss quickly pushed the lead up to 14 minutes into the fourth. Cleveland continued to fight but clutch buckets from the Knicks down the stretch helped them keep the commanding advantage and put this one to rest for good.
- Landry Shamet was big closing down the stretch, hitting three of his four threes. Brunson led all scorers with 30 points, Bridges stayed hot with 22 on 11-of-15 shooting, Anunoby had 21 on 6-of-10 shooting, Towns finished with a line of 13-8-7, and Hart had 12-9-5.
- New York shot a strong 56 percent from the field as a team and 39 percent from three.
Game MVP: Mikal Bridges
Bridges continued his terrific stretch, playing outstanding ball on both ends of the floor.
The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers on Saturday to take a 3-0 series lead.
CLEVELAND — The Knicks are on the threshold now.
They can almost taste it. It’s within touching distance. The Eastern Conference trophy will be in the building Monday. The Knicks will be able to reach out and grasp it.
They have one foot in the Finals, the destination that was demanded of them this season. The destination that they fell just short of last year. The destination that has eluded them since 1999.
Jalen Brunson shoots a jumper during the Knicks’ 121-108 Game 3 win over the Cavaliers on May 23, 2026 in Cleveland. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The Knicks are one win away after breezing past the Cavaliers 121-108 on Saturday night at Rocket Arena to take an overpowering 3-0 series lead. They have a chance to record back-to-back dominant sweeps.
“We won all these games in a row as a team,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “We’ve had this winning streak as a team. We’ve found these ways to get these great wins, even down 22 in Game 1, we came back as a team. As long as we stay together, we stay unified, we feel, we always have felt, the sky is the limit for us.”
The Cavaliers’ motto is “Let Em Know.” It’s plastered all over the arena. It was written on a huge flag that made its way around the crowd pregame.
Well, they did let the Knicks know — that they had no ability to make this a series or even challenge them. Saturday was the Knicks’ fifth straight road playoff win by at least 10 points, tying the NBA record.
Saturday’s final score doesn’t indicate a complete blowout like the Knicks have delivered in so many of these now 10 straight wins — nine of which have been by double-digits. But it also never really felt all that close, either.
Jalen Brunson defends James Harden during the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg
The Knicks never trailed. The Cavs tied the game twice, but there were zero lead changes. The Knicks kept the Cavs at arm’s length pretty much the entirety.
Given the way they’ve been playing since the middle of the first round, there was never really a sense the Knicks were under any sort of threat. When the Knicks scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to take a 14-point lead, the arena was noticeably deflated — besides the strong number of Knicks fans in attendance, at least. The Cavs began hanging their heads.
Three straight 3-pointers by Landry Shamet ensured that cushion was back to 14 points midway through the quarter. OG Anunoby’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 17 points with 5:30 left and it felt like that was the final dagger.
The scoring was incredibly balanced across the starting lineup. Towns, who had 11 points in the first quarter, set the tone early and finished with 13 points. Jalen Brunson, who was quiet early but scored 12 points in the third quarter, took over in the second half and finished with 30. Mikal Bridges, who had 22 points, and Anunoby, who added 21 points, were terrific throughout. Josh Hart added 12 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns looks to move the ball during the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg
“When we play our style of basketball,” Hart said, “everybody eats.”
Bridges’ transformation has been remarkable. He went 11-for-15 from the field, but took just one 3-pointer. He has been attacking the rim more than he ever has since joining the Knicks. He was also active as a cutter and was the recipient of a few assists that set him up for wide-open layups.
The Knicks had a 17-4 advantage in fast-break points. Bridges was right at the heart of it.
“His feel is unbelievable,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s just got a good feel. He’s doing that on his own, he’s picking and choosing when to go, just like he’s picking and choosing when to look for his shot. … I told him and OG: ‘Because I don’t call a ton of play-calls, you guys gotta find different ways to impose your will on the game.’ And they’re both doing a phenomenal job of imposing their will on the game.”
Towns’ facilitating prowess returned after a two-game hiatus. He took just nine shots — and only three in the second half — but recorded seven assists.
The Knicks defense wasn’t as stout as it had been. But it didn’t really need to be. For much of the second half, they were trading baskets with the Cavs. After building a lead, that was more than fine.
As a team, the Knicks shot 12-for-17 (70.6 percent) from the field in the first quarter. Bridges was 3-for-3 and Anunoby was 2-for-2. The only one who was off the mark? Brunson, who went 1-for-4 and missed all three treys he took.
Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson slap hands during the Knicks’ Game 3 win over the Cavaliers. Charles Wenzelberg
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Brunson predictably came alive, but he notably finished without a made 3-pointer. He took only one after the first quarter, torching the Cavs in the midrange.
He struggled with his 3-point shot all series, though it hasn’t yet mattered.
Right now, all that matters is just how close the Knicks are to the final destination.
“You don’t look ahead,” Brunson said. “You do what’s in front of you.”
A Finals berth is what is now in front of these Knicks.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (18) gestures after scoring in the second inning between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, May 23, 2026. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kyle Leahy was very sharp through the 4th inning in Cincinnati, but it was the 5th inning that came back to bite him as the Reds scored 5 runs in the 5th. The Cardinals offense would come to the rescue late, but the Reds would eventually outlast St. Louis in extra innings.
Let’s start with the good news. Jordan Walker continued his hot weekend with a 2nd inning walk that was followed by a single by Nolan Gorman where he went first to third and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Masyn Winn giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Jordan would also double in the top of the 4th inning, but did not score as Gorman, Winn and Torres were unable to bring him around. Jordan’s biggest swing was yet to come, though. Wait for it.
Kyle Leahy’s great start would become less great in the 5th inning. Higgins started the bottom of the 5th with a single to left. Friedl laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Higgins to second. Blake Dunn then singled, but Higgins was held at third base, but it wouldn’t matter as Elly De La Cruz would unload on a Leahy 4-seam fastball for a 3-run homer to deep left center making it 3-1 Reds. Cincinnati wasn’t done. Sal Stewart asked for a successful ABS challenge to draw a walk. Lowe then crushed a homer to center field upping the Reds lead to 5-1.
The comeback Cardinals would come alive in the top of the 6th inning as Ivan Herrera was hit by a pitch yet again. Alec Burleson then ripped a double to right as Herrera advanced to third. It was then that Jordan Walker absolutely punished a pitch by starter Chase Petty launching it 427 feet to left-center for a 3-run blast immediately getting the Cardinals back in the game shortening the Reds lead to only 5-4. Boom!
Kyle Leahy’s final stat line was 5 innings allowing 7 hits and 5 earned runs with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks. If not for that 5th inning, what might have been? Manager Oli Marmol brought in Justin Bruihl to pitch the bottom of the 6th inning to keep the Cardinals within striking distance. That didn’t go well. Bruihl allowed a leadoff double to Steer. He was advanced to third by a sacrifice bunt by Higgins. Then Myers hit a double to nearly the same place that Steer hit his which gave the Reds a run back increasing their lead to 6-4. That inspired Marmol to bring in Gordon Graceffo to shut down the Reds and keep the Cards within 2. He did the job allowing no more damage.
St. Louis came charging back in the top of the 7th inning as JJ Wetherholt drew a walk and then went to third on a successful hit-and-run by Ivan Herrera. Unfortunately, Jordan Walker would temporarily slip back to old Jordan Walker and chase a disappearing slider for the last out of the Cardinals 7th.
Ryan Fernandez was the Cardinals relief solution in the bottom of the 7th inning. He started his outing with strikeouts of Stewart, Lowe and McLain. After the Cardinals failed to mount any kind of forward-moving offense in the top of the 8th inning, Fernandez returned to handle the bottom of the 8th which he did with no difficulty, but Victor Scott II deserves a honorable mention assist as he made a great play on a ball hit by Myers that he caught right up against the wall.
The Cardinals would again threaten in the top of the 9th inning as Jose Fermin turned around a Tony Santillan 4-seam fastball into a 373 foot home run to left cutting the Reds lead down to just 1 at 6-5. Victor Scott II walked on a questionable 3-2 no-swing call which brought up JJ Wetherholt as the potential go-ahead run. JJ just missed his pitch flying out to right-center for the first out. Ivan Herrera then struck out on 3 straight pitches for the second out. That left Alec Burleson as the Cardinals final hope. He walked on four pitches bringing up Jordan Walker. He put on his hero hat yet again and squeezed a single in between third and short as Victor Scott II raced home for the tying run. Nolan Gorman hit a weak fly ball to left to end the Cardinals 9th, but at least they had a fighting chance.
JoJo Romero was brought in with the mission to keep Cincinnati in check in the bottom of the 9th inning and send the game to extras. He made a great play on a bunt attempt by Dunn in front of home for the first out. Elly De La Cruz was up next. He reached on a weak single to left field that Torres was unable to get to as all the outfielders were playing deep. JJ Bleday watched as Elly De La Cruz was unsuccessful in trying to steal second base despite a challenge by the Reds and then struck out to send the game to extras.
The Cardinals top of the 10th would not go as planned. Thomas Saggese came into the game as the designated runner at second base. Masyn Winn would move him to third base by grounding out to third with just one out. Bryan Torres hit a ground ball that was handled cleanly by first baseman Nathaniel Lowe who fired the ball home to nail Thomas Saggese who ran on contact. The Cardinals would lose their challenge on the play at home plate and would score no runs after Yohel Pozo popped out to first to end the inning.
JoJo Romero stayed in the game long enough to intentionally walk Stewart as JJ Bleday was on second as the designated runner to setup a force play. Riley O’Brien was brought in to try and keep the Reds from walking off the game in the bottom of the 10th. He would face Eugenio Suarez and strike him out for the first out. He then got McLain on a dribbler in front of the mound for the second out. That brought up Spencer Steer. Yohel Pozo saved the game twice on two balls that were in the dirt on the first base side. O’Brien struck him out on a 3-2 pitch to end the Red’s 10th inning.
The Cardinals designated runner in the top of the 11th inning was Yohel Pozo. First man up Victor Scott II struck out. JJ Wetherholt moved Pozo to third base by grounding out to first for the second out. Herrera nearly gave the Cardinals the lead, but was robbed by a sliding catch by Dunn to end the St. Louis 11th.
Riley O’Brien answered the bell and pitched the bottom of the 11th inning. Higgins laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt for the first out moving designated runner Steer to third base. Dane Myers was walked as the Cardinals shifted to a 5-man infield. Blake Dunn then hit a ball up the middle that Masyn Winn fielded, but instead of trying to turn a double play fired the ball home. Unfortunately, the ball short-hopped Pozo as Steer slid underneath the tag giving the Reds a tough 7-6 victory which was confirmed on a crew chief video review.
The St. Louis Cardinals will conclude their stay in the Cincinnati area over the weekend as they’ll send Matthew Liberatore to the mound to take on the Reds Sunday afternoon. Cincinnati will counter with Brady Singer (2-4, 6.26 ERA, 34 SO) who will start for the Reds. First pitch at Great America Ball Park is 12:40pm central time. Game broadcast will be on Cardinals.tv.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes knew they had to play more to their style to get back into the Eastern Conference Final series against Montreal.
They got that most of Saturday night for Game 2, along with a huge performance from offseason addition Nikolaj Ehlers.
Ehlers got loose up the center of the ice and popped the puck past Jakub Dobes at 3:29 of overtime to lift the Carolina Hurricanes past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Saturday night to level the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.
Nikolaj Ehlers (27) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes’ 3-2 win over the Canadiens in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals in Raleigh, N.C. Getty Images
Ehlers scored twice for the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the first with a highlight-reel individual effort in the second period against two Montreal defenders.
And when the game went to OT, the guy the Hurricanes landed as a sought-after free agent carried them to the finish line.
“He’s a special talent,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said, “and it was on full display tonight.”
The winning sequence started with a retreating Jalen Chatfield bouncing the puck back into the neutral zone to Mark Jankowski. Jankowski had a quick redirection to Ehlers entering the zone at full speed for a clean look at Dobes for the sudden winner.
“We didn’t get a second breath,” said Dobes, who had 23 saves. “It was over pretty quick.”
As the puck hit the net, that sent a tense home crowd into a relieved but jubilant roar — along with a screaming Ehlers.
Nikolaj Ehlers celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal in the Hurricanes’ Game 2 win over the Canadiens. Getty Images
“I can barely talk right now, but I was yelling pretty loudly after that OT winner,” Ehlers said.
“It was a great pass … and then just try to get some speed and get the puck off my stick as quick as possible and try to surprise the goalie,” Ehlers said. “Seeing that go in, seeing how the fans reacted was pretty cool.”
Eric Robinson also scored for Carolina, which improved to 4-0 in overtime in the playoffs — including 3-2 home wins in extra time during Game 2 in all three playoff series so far.
Carolina was facing massive pressure to regroup from Thursday’s 6-2 loss in the series opener that only magnified the team’s long-running troubles in the Eastern Final. Now the series is level as it shifts to Canada for Monday’s Game 3.
Josh Anderson scored twice for the Canadiens, the second coming at the 12:51 mark of the third period to ultimately force the overtime at 2-2.
The Canadiens won Game 1 by jumping on a Carolina team coming off an 11-day break after sweeping through the first two rounds — the longest wait to start a series in more than a century — for four goals in the opening 11 1/2 minutes. Montreal repeatedly got loose for clean breakouts and breakaways for high-danger chances against Frederik Andersen in that one.
But Carolina looked much closer to its earlier playoff form with is aggressive forecheck and defensive pressure, holding Montreal to 12 shots on goal and giving up far fewer of those quick transition chances the Canadiens kept burying in Game 1.
“It’s hard to go 200 feet and produce offense unless you execute a little bit through that pressure,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “I felt today we weren’t terrible, we just weren’t as good” as Thursday.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 23: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Andy Pages #44 after hitting a three-run home run to tie the game in the fourth inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Brewers had a big first inning for the second night in a row, but this time the Dodgers had an answer. Teoscar Hernández drove in six runs to turn things around in a 11-3 win for Los Angeles on Saturday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Roki Sasaki needed 35 pitches to get through the first inning, a frame that started with two doubles and was exacerbated by his own throwing error and a mistimed leap by Mookie Betts at shortstop on a single that scored the third run. After trailing 4-0 after an inning on Friday, the Dodgers were down 3-0 after one on Saturday.
Los Angeles had a runner on base in each of the first two innings, including a one-out triple by Kyle Tucker in the second, but he was stranded. One of the outs was a strikeout by Hernández.
More opportunities came, and Los Angeles finally cashed in during the fourth inning, first with consecutive doubles by Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages for one run. After a walk by Tucker, Hernández hit a towering ball down the left field line that hit off the foul pole for a three-run shot that gave the Dodgers their first lead of the series.
That’s the second home run this week for Hernández, and his third extra-base hit in four games.
After a double (off the yellow line in center field, just shy of a home run) and walk with two outs in the second inning, Sasaki escaped that frame and retired his final 10 batters face, getting through the next four innings on only 52 more pitches. He left with four strikeouts and a lead.
Two walks started the eighth for the Dodgers, who cashed them in with consecutive singles by Will Smith and Hernández, plus a squeeze bunt by Miguel Rojas for a three-run frame. Hernández added another two-run single in the ninth for a season-high six RBI.
After going three weeks without an extra-base hit, Hernández since May 11 is hitting .386/.440/.682 with seven extra-base hits in 12 games.
Going streaking
After Alex Vesia and Kyle Hurt protected a one-run lead in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, a warmed-up Tanner Scott entered with a four-run lead in the eighth and struck out three to work around a single. Jonathan Hernández got the ninth inning with an eight-run lead and retired all three he faced to finish the win.
Dodgers relievers have not allowed a run since May 12, and the bullpen’s 36 consecutive scoreless innings is the longest in modern franchise history (since 1901). On Saturday they surpassed a 33-inning streak from April 17-28, 1998.
Notes
Eleven walks by Dodgers batters is a season high, two more than their previous best set last Saturday in Anaheim.
Freeman also walked four times, one shy of his career high set on June 17, 2024. He had two other four-walk games with Atlanta, in the regular season in 2019 and in Game 6 of the 2021 National League Championship Series.
Shohei Ohtani singled twice and walked on Saturday, his ninth straight game reaching base at least twice, matching his own streak from April 3-12 as the longest by a Dodger this season. The last longer Dodgers streak was Freeman with a 10-game streak from April 20-30, 2024.
The Dodgers and Brewers close things up on Sunday afternoon (11:10 a.m. PT, SportsNet LA), with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound against right-hander Brandon Sproat.
MIAMI — Jonah Tong’s strong work Friday has earned him a stay with the Mets.
The right-hander figures into the next rotation turn, either as a starter or in a bulk relief role, according to Mendoza, after he pitched three hitless, scoreless innings from the bullpen against the Marlins in his season debut.
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With Tong in the mix, Zach Thornton was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse — allowing the Mets to add another reliever. That spot went to Jonathan Pintaro, who was recalled Saturday.
“[Tong] is a big part of the team and the organization, so we’re going to continue to give him opportunities,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets lost to the Marlins, 4-1.
“What we saw [Friday] was very encouraging and that is what we expect from him.”
Thornton allowed four earned runs over 4 ¹/₃ innings Wednesday against the Nationals in his major league debut.
Jonah Tong pitched three scoreless innings in the Mets’ loss to the Marlins on May 22, 2026 in Miami. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jared Young is progressing in his rehab and could rejoin the Mets during the next homestand, according to Mendoza.
The utilityman has been sidelined for the past five weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. MJ Melendez has filled the left-handed bat, outfield/DH role in Young’s absence.
A.J. Minter was rained out in his scheduled rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse.
The lefty reliever has been rescheduled to pitch Sunday, his potential final appearance before rejoining the Mets.
Kodai Senga will be with the Mets in New York this week to work out with teammates and under the coaching staff’s guidance.
Mendoza did not have the specifics on Senga’s next rehab start. The right-hander threw 63 pitches over 3 ¹/₃ innings for Single-A St. Lucie on Friday.
Tylor Megill and Reed Garrett, both of whom are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in Port St. Lucie, were with the team Saturday at loanDepot park.
“It can be a lonely place when you are far away from your teammates and them going through what they are going through,” Mendoza said.
